The inter-connectivity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will prove a tricky mistress in the coming years, particularly with ABC and Marvel's 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' operating on a smaller scale within the same context. And while 'The Avengers: Age of Ultron' would no doubt impact 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,' might Cobie Smulders' Maria Hill act as a bridge between 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' and the more imminent 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'?

Smulders, who has already been confirmed to appear in both the 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' pilot and the 'Captain America' sequel, recently spoke to IGN on the possibility of Maria Hill acting as a sort of connective tissue between the show and movie, given that 'The Winter Soldier' will have a much larger S.H.I.E.L.D. component than say, 'Thor: The Dark World.'

Smulders will also no doubt be busy with the final season of 'How I Met Your Mother,' but expressed her interest in helping facilitate connections within the movie-TV branches of the franchise:

It’s going to be very interesting to see how these next three years of Marvel plays out, because they’re so smart and so good about keeping the stories connected. You know, Iron Man 3 was happening after New York, and it was sort of his side of things; S.H.I.E.L.D. didn’t have anything to do with it really. Then Cap comes in, and it’s all about S.H.I.E.L.D. -- and Thor’s, like, in another world.

But just seeing how all these pieces come together -- I don’t know how this timeline is going to work within that. I don’t know if it’s going to be conflicting with the movies or what, but I love Joss [Whedon] and Jed [Whedon] and Maurissa [Tancharoen]. The [S.H.I.E.L.D.] cast was amazing. Clark [Gregg] is my bud. So if they want me to come in and want me to play it, I’d be happy to come and play.

While we await the September 24 premiere, we know that Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ features a cast that includes Clark Gregg’s resurrected Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na as veteran agent Melinda May, Brett Dalton as Agent Grant Ward, Chloe Bennet as hacker Skye, and Elizabeth Henstridge and Iain De Caestecker as science team Gemma Simmons and Leo Fitz. 'Ghost Whisperer' vet David Conrad and 'Luck' star Ian Hart have been added for recurring parts, though details remain light on their scientist roles.

Even Nick Fury himself, Samuel L. Jacksonpreviously stated that he expected to be involved with the show in some small capacity, and both Tom Hiddleston and Sam Rockwell are game to reprise their roles of Loki and Justin Hammer, by their own word.

Understandably, we'd expect the Marvel movies to keep a cordial distance from 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,' and vice versa, though it could certainly prove interesting around subsequent movie releases to see how the TV series addresses ongoing events. Cobie Smulders could certainly provide that bridge, but what say you? How would you like to see 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' connect to the movies, when not busy with its own tales?

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